By CHRISTY JOHNSON
Staff Writer

There are many goods and services provided in the Heartland that are made with care and precision.

Dedicated workers look to create leather-wear, baked-goods and crafts the way their ancestors would have made it.

One of the area's most treasured industries, furniture, is no exception.

New Mexico couple LeeAnn and Chet Hine, owners of the Amish Connection in Albuquerque, said they decided to start selling Amish furniture because of the unsurpassed quality.

"You cannot buy better furniture, and once they realize that, it is hard for them to buy anything but this," Chet Hine said.

"These products are solid wood and handcrafted. You just cannot buy a better piece of furniture than Amish-made furniture." LeeAnn Hine said.

And there is no better place to find Amish-made furniture than in the heart of Amish country, Holmes County.

"In our Holmes County area, the furniture industry employs 3,000 people and the value of furniture shipments from our region every year is about $281,000,000," said Shasta Mast, executive director of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Visitors Bureau. "19 percent of all the hardwood grade lumber in Ohio is used for our furniture industry, so that is significant."

Four Corner's, located off County Road 62 between Berlin and Winesburg on Township Road 652, offers a wide range of bedroom and dining room furniture and is located on a scenic fifth generation farm owned by the Miller family.

Brother owners Myron Miller and Marcus Miller make it a point to keep their customers happy and their business one that remains family owned and operated of 10 years.

The brother have a background in furniture, Myron with building and Marcus Miller with refinishing. Myron Miller decided to open his own store, located on the family farm, which has been lived on by five generations of Millers.

"We have a really good customer base," Marcus Miller said. "They like the fact that we make the furniture ourselves and finish it."

Marcus Miller said a lot of their business is repeat customers, which is what they have been striving for.

"Actually, our tagline is 'a place to come back to,'" Marcus Miller said. "If you treat people right, they will come back."

Another family owned and operated furniture company which is worth the trip is Pleasant View Furniture.

Since 1991, Pleasant View has been offering a complete line of hardwood furniture, and it will also custom build products for customers.

Green Acres Furniture, located north of Mount Eaton, opened in 1990 by Steve's father, Paul Swartzentruber. The business was designed to provide Paul's sons, Steve, Leon and Dave, a way to work close to home.

"He wanted to do something where us children could be involved," Steve Swartzentruber said. "We thought he was crazy and still is."

Paul, Dave and Steve were in the construction business at the time.

"I couldn't tell you the difference between a piece of oak and a 2-by-4," Steve Swartzentruber said.

Since then, this family business has expanded to include 24 employees. The workshop also has expanded from a 3,000-square-foot woodworking shop to an 18,000-square-foot manufacturing operation.

The furniture industry is not only good for the individuals who own and work at the businesses, it is good for the tourism industry in Holmes County as well, Mast said.

"We have a lot of people who come specifically for our furniture," Mast said. "A lot of it is word of mouth, someone who bought a beautiful dining room table here will tell their friends about it."

Mast said she thinks the interest in hand-made furniture is "definitely quality related," and because the products are made locally, and sometimes on site, people can see and talk to the people who actually made the table or chair they are purchasing.

They can also often cater to special orders, Mast said.

"If you need something specific or want use exotic wood the people here can do that for you," Mast said. "This is kind of a one-of-a-kind experience."

Reporter Christy Johnson can be reached at 330-287-1638 or cjohnson@the-daily-record.com.